Eric McFarland, Ph.D. and Professor at UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Chemical Engineering visits Radio Causeway to discuss his work with the new $122M US Department of Energy’s “Artificial Synthesis” project. The Joint Center for Artificial Synthesis (JCAP) is a colaboration of six top California universities with a goal of developing cost-effective methods of gathering energy from sunlight by mimicking the process plants use to produce energy: photosynthesis.

“The Energy Innovation Hubs have enormous potential to advance transformative breakthroughs,” said Deputy Secretary Poneman. “Finding a cost-effective way to produce fuels as plants do — combining sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide — would be a game changer, reducing our dependence on oil and enhancing energy security. This Energy Innovation Hub will enable our scientists to combine their talents to tackle this bold and highly promising challenge.”

Radio Causeway airs live Tuesdays at 9 AM on KCSB 91.9 FM in Santa Barbara an online at KCSB.ORG.